chucklwaters Posted October 20, 2010 Posted October 20, 2010 My beautiful girlfriend was on a popular online dating site for 4 years before we met. During that time, she received more than 25 thousand emails from interested guys. Early on she thought of a way to turn that interest into a profit. She began organizing singles parties at local bars. When a guy would write, she'd respond: thanks so much for getting in touch with me but I've recently began seeing someone; however, if you're interested, my friends and I are throwing an upcoming singles party. She made thousands. I say this is a scam. That it's sort of like advertising a car for sale in the paper, but then instead selling tickets to a car show. That's called "bait and switch." I call her party scheme "date and switch." What do you think?
utterer of lies Posted October 20, 2010 Posted October 20, 2010 My beautiful girlfriend was on a popular online dating site for 4 years before we met. During that time, she received more than 25 thousand emails from interested guys. Early on she thought of a way to turn that interest into a profit. She began organizing singles parties at local bars. When a guy would write, she'd respond: thanks so much for getting in touch with me but I've recently began seeing someone; however, if you're interested, my friends and I are throwing an upcoming singles party. She made thousands. I say this is a scam. That it's sort of like advertising a car for sale in the paper, but then instead selling tickets to a car show. That's called "bait and switch." I call her party scheme "date and switch." What do you think? Great idea. Sounds like she's beautiful and intelligent. Too bad you are not good enough for her.
ascendotum Posted October 20, 2010 Posted October 20, 2010 So on the night its her and a couple of friends and what...60 horny single guys who paid $x to meet 60 single women. She must have been a busy girl. Maybe she made good dosh and that's why she was on a dating site for so many years. Enterprising, like those scammy online dating women who ask you to switch to this other website to continue to chat and cam but you need to provide your credit card details, because this other site has this silly rule where they need to know you are over 18.
Cee Posted October 20, 2010 Posted October 20, 2010 Throwing singles parties isn't illegal if she has the proper licenses and have paid her taxes on the profits. There are lots of companies who do singles type parties. However, that would be a violation of the dating web site's Terms of Service by soliciting people on the site. If she was able to do this for four years, she was doing a good enough job not to get complaints. She must have been doing more than sending individual messages to men who contacted her. How did she recruit women to the parties? If she was simply having her women friends act as plants, then what she was doing was unethical. If unattached men and women showed up in decent numbers, then I would say she's more of an entrepreneur. And good for her.
Author chucklwaters Posted October 20, 2010 Author Posted October 20, 2010 She'd contact women on the dating website and invite them too - and put up flyers as well. Sure everybody had a good time. Still smacks of a scam to me though, people don't go on these sites to buy tickets to singles parties... whether they leave a satisfied customer or not. Some actors websites post casting calls and contact actors, only to sell them headshots. Kinda the same thing
Cee Posted October 20, 2010 Posted October 20, 2010 At first reading, I wanted to be angry and say, "How dare this hot woman make money off of lonely people like me?" And then I thought, "Wow, this hot woman is helping less hot men/women meet each other. I'd paid money myself for that." Dating sites can be a brutal way to find love. A mix n mingle sounds like a more fun and relaxed way to interact with different people. I would say that the only "crime" she committed was recruiting within an online dating website, which expressly prohibits that type of behavior. I'm surprised that she didn't caught and had her ISP banned from the site. One or two complaints would have sunk her. I think your GF has some talent and finesse to chat people up in a way that they don't feel like they are getting a sales pitch. I think your GF should start some sort of special events company. With her beauty, smarts, and natural talent, she'd go far. Off topic. Just curious: How did you get to know your GF? Not on that dating site, I presume.
Author chucklwaters Posted October 20, 2010 Author Posted October 20, 2010 Yes... met her on that same dating website. She told me she'd been on it for 4 years - and had never been on more than 2 dates in a row. I was really surprised because she's really pretty. But as we went on in the relationship, her story began to fall apart. You see, she was careful with her wording. She mentioned no more than 2 dates in a row - but failed to mention it had turned into a money maker for her. And when we met, she said she didn't have a boyfriend, "technically" I guess that was true. But she had picked up a guy at one of her parties - and they were F-buddies for 2 to 3 years. She was still seeing him when we met, and didn't mention him until seven months later - so I feel really betrayed. I found out all this stuff after I fell in love with her... so it's been hard. You're right. she's a smooth talker. We're stll together, but just barely.
reservoirdog1 Posted October 20, 2010 Posted October 20, 2010 I say, good on her. Enterprising woman. Capitalism at its finest.
SincereOnlineGuy Posted October 21, 2010 Posted October 21, 2010 My beautiful girlfriend was on a popular online dating site for 4 years before we met. During that time, she received more than 25 thousand emails from interested guys. Early on she thought of a way to turn that interest into a profit. She began organizing singles parties at local bars. When a guy would write, she'd respond: thanks so much for getting in touch with me but I've recently began seeing someone; however, if you're interested, my friends and I are throwing an upcoming singles party. That's called "bait and switch." I call her party scheme "date and switch." What do you think? Sorry pal, there is no "bait and switch" here. As nobody arrived without first knowing that indeed a gathering of singles would occur, it cannot be recognized as a "bait and switch". Furthermore, the term "date and switch" would more accurately decribe an orgy than what you are telling us about.
BobSacamento Posted October 21, 2010 Posted October 21, 2010 Doesn't sound very ethical to me. Does she advertise herself as single on the site? If so I'd say bait and switch.
Author chucklwaters Posted October 21, 2010 Author Posted October 21, 2010 Yeah... She was allegedly on there looking for dates - but most of the guys she steered to the parties. I feel hosting a singles party is fine... Just don't use match dot com as a venue to sell tickets for it on
Knittress Posted October 21, 2010 Posted October 21, 2010 Wow, gorgeous AND talented. She didn't lie to anyone - she said she was holding an event for singles and she followed through. It's a trifle spammy, but it's not like she was taking advantage of anyone.
Untouchable_Fire Posted October 21, 2010 Posted October 21, 2010 But she had picked up a guy at one of her parties - and they were F-buddies for 2 to 3 years. She was still seeing him when we met, and didn't mention him until seven months later - so I feel really betrayed. I found out all this stuff after I fell in love with her... so it's been hard. You're right. she's a smooth talker. We're stll together, but just barely. Yuk! What a whorebag!
carhill Posted October 21, 2010 Posted October 21, 2010 Overseas, IME in the CIS and Asia, such dynamics can grow into marriage brokerages and sex tour agencies. They start small, with one enterprising person and a couple 'friends', and grow from there. Business is business. I've met very few successful businesspeople who were/are driven as the white snow. They do what works within the legal boundaries their lawyers advise them of, and even stretch those. That's what successful people do. IMO, the date and switch part appears to be applicable more to the OP's situation than to the wider business plan. It sounds like the young lady was 'creative' with the truth regarding their personal relationship as well. Maybe it's a good thing that they're 'barely' together. OP, you got some really good information here. Store it away for future use. People don't discriminate in their essential behaviors. Good luck
Gallaxia Posted October 21, 2010 Posted October 21, 2010 I'd say you're testing out a business plan........
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